Scripture Daily

Context No. 4090 of 4322 · Revelation

Context · Reflection

Revelation 22:12-16: in context

12“Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, to repay to each man according to his work. 13I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. 14Blessed are those who do his commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city. 15Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. 16I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify these things to you for the assemblies. I am the root and the offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”

Near the very end of the Bible, the risen Christ speaks words of promise and self-revelation: Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. And, I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.

Here at the close of Scripture, Jesus declares who he is and what he will do. Two things stand out. He is coming, and coming soon. The Christian hope is not merely that Christ came once, but that he will come again, bringing his reward, to set all things right. This is meant to keep us watchful and faithful, living in readiness for his return. And he is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the one who encompasses all of history and all of reality, the root of David from whom salvation came, and the bright morning star, the herald of a new day about to dawn. To know him as the morning star is to live in hope of the day he will bring.

Am I living in watchful readiness for Christ's return, who is coming soon to bring his reward, and do I know him as the Alpha and Omega and the bright morning star, the herald of the day he will bring?

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